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slug

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slug away (at something)

To continue trying or working diligently (at something); to plug away (at something). I'm really not very good at math, but I've got to keep slugging away if I want to get into an engineering program. John's been slugging away at the new project, but I don't think he's enjoying it very much.

See also: away, slug

slug it out

to fight something out; to argue intensely about something. They finally went outside to slug it out. We'll just have to sit down in the conference room and slug it out.

See also: out, slug

slug it out

to compete against someone or something for first or highest position Will the rest of the country find these teams interesting enough to watch them slug it out on TV for seven games? Two new mystery novels are slugging it out in the bookstores.

Related vocabulary: duke it out

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of slug it out (to fight, esp. by hitting with the hands)

See also: out, slug

slug

1. n. a drink of liquor; a shot of whiskey. Have a slug of this stuff. It will—I’m sorry to say, ma’am—put hair on your chest. A couple more slugs and he was ready to face the huge bull-necked ruffian.

2. n. a bullet. Marlowe sent a couple of slugs into Rocko’s chest. Rocko crumpled soundlessly.

slug it out

tv. to fight something out; to fight about something figuratively. We’ll just have to sit down in the conference room and slug it out.

See also: out, slug

slugged

mod. alcohol intoxicated. I’m slugged—skunked, you know, corned. And I think I am going to sick up. Ted realized that he was slugged out of his mind, but tried to get the bartender to serve him another drink.

See also: slug